Do Seasons Affect Allergies?

Do Seasons Affect Allergies

Ever heard the term allergy season? While the word season in this case refers to the particular stretch of time in which certain allergies flare up, different allergy seasons do correspond with different seasons of the year. Each season brings its own particular challenges, whether you suffer from year-round allergies or seasonal allergies that only hit at a particular time of the year. To clue you in on what you can expect all throughout the year, we’ll discuss the particular allergies that come to life in each season as well as how the four seasons can affect year-round allergies and ways in which you can relieve your allergy symptoms.

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Spring:

Large field of flowers

Spring is a time of renewal, of fresh life and warming weather. For allergy suffers, though, spring also means the first round in pollen related allergies. While many people associate flowers with allergy symptoms, it’s actually weeds, grasses, and trees that are the predominant culprits. Only a small percentage of people are actually allergic to flowers, so it’s more than likely you don’t need to dread the vibrant blooms that come with the spring thaw.

Most of the allergy symptoms experienced in the spring are due to tree pollen from specimens like oak, birch, maple, and poplar. This is also a time of year when mold allergies flare up due to the rise in temperatures coupled with precipitation. Mold thrives in warm, humid environments so once these conditions set in after the cold months of winter, mold spore counts start to rise.

For year-round allergy sufferers, including individuals allergic to dust, spring can also lead to an increase in allergy symptoms. Like mold, dust mites are the culprits behind the dust in our homes and thrive in warm, humid environments. They’re able to reproduce faster and in higher quantities once temperatures warm up and thus lead to an increase in the amount of dust floating around your home.

Seasonal Allery Guide

Summer:

Once the tree pollen has subsided in the spring, the summer season begins and grasses begin to release pollen in the early summer followed by weeds in late summer. Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, and rye grass are all among the top grass contributors in the summer months. Late summer is when one of the most common sources of allergies kicks in: ragweed. This weed grows all throughout North America in a variety of species, with pollen from ragweed capable of traveling hundreds of miles. It’s perhaps the most common allergen associated with Hay Fever. Hay Fever is a term used to describe rhinitis symptoms associated with pollen allergies.

Field of plants

Humidity levels in the summer can also contribute to an increase in the amount of allergy-causing mold spores in the air. Areas in the South, particularly coastal areas that are prone to very humid summers. Therefore, homeowners in these areas need an air conditioning installation to cool down the temperature inside their homes and to filter out allergens. They should also make sure that their ac units get serviced regularly from a professional ac repair technician like these HVAC services in Waxahachie, TX. If your ac unit is more than 10 years old, it may be time for an ac replacement and get a more energy-efficient unit that also has advanced air filtration functionalities.

These areas are likely to see such rises in mold and mildew. This is also likely to be the time of the year in which dust mites are at their peak, causing a spike in dust allergy symptoms.

It’s also more likely that allergy sufferers will experience a condition known as oral allergy syndrome in summer. This condition can technically be experienced throughout the various pollen seasons. However, since the greatest variety of fruits and vegetables are found in the summer, the syndrome is more likely to appear then. Oral allergy syndrome is a result of cross-reactive allergies. For instance, an allergy to a certain pollen can trigger an allergy to particular foods. This is because certain enzymes found in different pollens are genetically quite similar to certain enzymes found in various foods.

The syndrome is often temporary, although some people who are strongly allergic to pollens are often permanently allergic to corresponding foods. Those who experience this allergic reaction typically have a tingling sensation in and around the mouth and possibly a flare up in Hay Fever symptoms.

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Fall:

Abstract background with autumn leaves. Yellow Fallen autumn leaves on draw wooden old background

This time of the year is most associated with the ragweed season. While it typically starts in late summer, the ragweed season extends throughout fall, sometimes as late as November. Other weeds are just as likely to trigger allergy symptoms as ragweed. These include golden rod, mugwort, and sagebrush.

Fall is also the time of the year in which mold allergies usually reach their peak. This is in large due to the amount of decaying leaf matter on the ground. Mold will continue to be a problem until the first cold snaps of winter finally take place, at which point it and the pollen producing plants will die back and bring some relief to seasonal allergy sufferers.

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Winter:

Winter forest nature snowy landscape outdoor background

While winter doesn’t bring with it any pollen or outdoor mold. The cold, dry weather can cause problems for year-round asthma and allergy sufferers. As we heat our indoor spaces we’re also taking much of the moisture out of the air. This heating can result in very dry nasal passages. Breathing in cold, dry air with any kind of respiratory ailment makes for a pretty miserable experience. Furthermore, breathing such air when the nasal passages are dry, cracked also causes irritation.

One of the season’s indirect contributions to allergy and asthma issues is the fact that the cold weather tends to force people indoors for greater periods of time. This brings about greater exposure to allergens like dust, pet dander, and household mold. Combine this added exposure with the dry air in your house and you’re likely to end up dealing with an unpleasant situation.

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Finding Relief Throughout the Year:

No matter the season there are always ways in which allergy and asthma symptoms can be reduced and better managed. Whether you have a pollen allergy or an indoor allergy like a dust or smoke allergy, one of the wisest moves you can make is to invest in an air purifier.

Happy child relaxing in toy chair on play mat. Nursery and play room for young children. Infant furniture, clothing, texti

Air purifiers come in a range of prices and are a great means of creating better air quality indoors. This is true even when outdoor allergens are at their height. Larger capacity purifiers can be used in larger living spaces while smaller capacity models are great for use in bedrooms. Having an air purifier in your bedroom is of particular importance because this is actually where you’re likely to spend most of your time (typically at least 8 hours). Plus, creating better air quality in a bedroom is helpful in avoiding nighttime flare ups of your allergy symptoms. Avoiding these can improve something that’s usually a major hindrance in getting sufficient sleep.

If smoke and various chemicals are allergy triggers then we recommend investing in an air purifier that contains activated carbon. Activated carbon will bind with smoke particles and chemical molecules, trapping them within the air purifier and preventing them from escaping through a gaseous emission. Such purifiers are especially useful for homes where cigarette smoke is commonly present.

You can also invest in hypoallergenic bedding. The fibers found in common bedding allow pollen and mold spores to easily attach themselves, becoming lodged within sheets, pillowcases, and even deep down into the pillows themselves. Hypoallergenic bedding features fabrics that have tight-knit fibers that make it difficult for spores to become ensnared. Hypoallergenic pillows and pillowcases should be a main focus as these objects are what your nose and mouth come into direct contact with throughout the night.

Such bedding is also useful in controlling dust mites, as these tiny creatures live mostly in beds along with upholstered furniture. They do particularly well in beds because our body warmth and sweat provide the right sort of warm, humid environment for them. Bedding that not only makes it difficult for dust mites to live within its fibers but also helps to keep you cool at night will go a long way in keep dust mite numbers in check.

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Winter Specific Relief:

A girl smiling winter outdoors

In order to counteract the dry air that comes with winter, it’s advisable to purchase a humidifier for your home. A humidifier will help to keep your nasal passages moist and therefore help lessen any irritation should you already be experiencing allergy symptoms. You also have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to the type of humidifier you purchase, something that makes it easier to find the right fit for your specific needs.

Warm Mist Humidifiers use coils to heat the water within reservoir. This in turn creates an evaporative mist that is then released into the air. People who choose these humidifiers often do so because they like the fact that the boiled water reduces the amount of bacteria that could be present in the water.

Cool Mist Humidifiers are unlike their warm mist counterparts. These humidifiers do not employ a boiling agent. Instead, water is soaked up into a filter, known as a wick, which then has air blown across it by a fan, carrying the moisture off into the room. These are typically considered more energy efficient when compared to warm mist humidifiers.

Ultrasonic Humidifiers feature either warm mist or cool mist technology. Moreover, ultrasonic humidifiers don’t use a wick or rarely even a fan to disperse water vapor. These machines rely on a disc that spins at an ultrasonic frequency against the surface of the water reservoir. This causes the water to break apart in tiny droplets that are then dispersed as vapor. Ultrasonic humidifiers are known to be extra quiet and are therefore great choices for bedrooms.

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Nasal Rinses:

Excellent sources of relief throughout the year, nasal rinses help to both remove pollen and mold spores from the nasal passages as well as to return moisture. Nasal rinses can be bought or made at home using water, salt, and baking soda. Importantly, when making a nasal rinse at home it’s vital that you always use either distilled or boiled water. Using regular tap water can contain microbes that can lead to infectious illnesses. Even so, nasal rinses are safe and easy to use. They can be a useful tool throughout the allergy season to help flush out allergens and relieve the inflammation that their presence causes.

Side view portrait of two happy girls breathing fresh air together in a park at sunset with a warm back light in the background

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Immunotherapy:

It may be that you don’t have to resort to a variety of management strategies in order to deal with your allergy symptoms. Many people find benefits from receiving immunotherapy treatments that are designed to create an immunity towards particular allergens. This treatment is carried out through a long-term course of injections that expose participants to small amount of an allergen, allowing their immune system to build up a tolerance to the allergen over time. A more expensive alternative to any other mentioned here, this course of action does nevertheless offer an opportunity for more permanent relief.

Immunotherapy isn’t for everyone, though, and it’s something that you should discuss in detail with your doctor. Some people are so allergic to particular things that they can’t handle the exposure provided by the allergy shot.

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The Benefit of Changing Your Habits:

Freedom happy girl feeling alive and free in nature breathing clean and fresh air. showing happiness with arms raised up.

Little things that you’re able to do throughout an allergy season can add up to big results. Limiting exposure is one of the most important things to live by and you can be aided in this by keeping an eye on pollen and mold counts. Limiting your time outside, especially when these counts are high, will help you maintain some control over your allergy symptoms.

Changing out of clothes after coming inside is also helpful. Pollen and mold spores can land on your clothes and then find their way to other areas of your home. You may even want to shower after coming inside. Having solid surface floors instead of carpeting is also a big help in cutting down on the places where allergens can hide out.

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